Washington (CNN) - He was never asked if he was gay, so he never told–until now. As the dust settles on Capitol Hill after a contentious vote that could have led to the repeal of the Defense Department's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, retired Air Force Master Sgt. Dan Zaborowski is finally speaking out.

CNN talked to Zaborowski and his partner this week to get an inside look at what it was like to serve 21 years in the military as a gay man in silence under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.